Virginia 2025 Regular Session All Bills
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2218
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Report Pass
1/28/25
Engrossed
1/31/25
Refer
2/4/25
Report Pass
2/12/25
Enrolled
2/19/25
Chaptered
4/2/25
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; rental payment methods. Prohibits a landlord subject to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act from charging a tenant any fee for the collection or processing of any payment of rent, security deposit, or any other fees, unless the landlord offers an alternative method of payment that does not include additional fees. This bill is identical to SB 1356.
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2219
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Report Pass
1/22/25
Engrossed
1/27/25
Refer
1/29/25
Report Pass
2/13/25
Engrossed
2/18/25
Engrossed
2/19/25
Enrolled
3/7/25
Chaptered
3/24/25
Passed
3/24/25
Students who need or use augmentative and alternative communication; documentation of needs on individualized education program; staff training. Requires each school division to document on the individualized education program of a student with a disability who needs or uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) such student's AAC and communication access and support needs prior to the provision of instruction or support to such student, including any extended school year period. The bill defines AAC as any method or tool other than oral speech that an individual uses to communicate, including gestures, facial expressions, writing, and speech-generating devices. The bill also requires each school division to provide to each employee or contractor who provides instruction or direct support to a student with a disability who needs or uses an AAC individualized training as an assistive technology to support the student's use of AAC and to ensure that access to curricula and instruction is designed or adapted as necessary to accommodate the student's unique communication access needs. The bill also establishes a timeline for such training based on certain circumstances. This bill is identical to SB 1034.
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2220
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Parole; exception to limitation on the application of parole statutes. Provides that a person is eligible to be considered for parole if such person (i) was sentenced by a jury after the date of the Supreme Court of Virginia decision in Fishback v. Commonwealth, 260 Va. 104 (2000), in which the Supreme Court held that a jury should be instructed on the fact that parole has been abolished, for a felony committed on or after the abolition of parole going into effect on January 1, 1995; (ii) can prove by the preponderance of the evidence that the jury in his case was not instructed on the fact that parole has been abolished; and (iii) remained incarcerated for the offense on July 1, 2025, and the offense was not one of the following: (a) a Class 1 felony; (b) if the victim was a minor, rape, forcible sodomy, object sexual penetration, or aggravated sexual battery or an attempt to commit any such act; or (c) carnal knowledge. The bill also requires the Parole Board to establish procedures for consideration of parole of persons entitled to it and also provides that any person who is eligible for parole as of July 1, 2025, shall be scheduled for a parole interview no later than July 1, 2026, allowing for extension of time for reasonable cause.
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2221
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Report Pass
1/31/25
Engrossed
2/3/25
Engrossed
2/4/25
Refer
2/5/25
Report Pass
2/7/25
Report Pass
2/12/25
Engrossed
2/14/25
Engrossed
2/18/25
Enrolled
2/20/25
Chaptered
4/2/25
Prisoners; Department of Corrections-issued identification; report. Requires that prior to the release or discharge into the community of any prisoner who has been confined for at least 90 days and does not possess a government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or social security card, the Department of Corrections, in conjunction with the Department of Motor Vehicles, the State Registrar of Vital Records, and any other relevant government agency, shall provide such prisoner with a certified copy of his birth certificate, his social security card, or a government-issued identification card, unless such provision of a government-issued identification card is not possible, in which case, the Department of Corrections shall provide the prisoner with a Department of Corrections Offender Identification form. The bill also specifies what identifying information must be included on such form and provides that such form shall be verified by the Department of Corrections and provided to the Department of Motor Vehicles in a secured format and by a means mutually agreed upon by both and shall serve as proof of identity and proof of Virginia residency and may serve as proof of legal presence in the United States or proof of a social security number, if one is available, as required to obtain a government-issued identification card for the 120 days immediately following the release or discharge of the prisoner identified on such form. The bill also requires the Department of Corrections and the Department of Motor Vehicles to cooperatively establish procedures for verifying a Department of Corrections Offender Identification form and all information contained therein and prohibits the Department of Motor Vehicles from accepting such form if the form or any of the information contained on the form cannot be verified. These provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026. The bill also directs the Department of Corrections, in coordination with the State Board of Local and Regional Jails, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the State Registrar of Vital Records, to (i) identify the number of prisoners released with and without identification cards; (ii) review the processes involved in assisting a prisoner in applying for and obtaining a government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or social security card; (iii) identify any obstacles that may interfere with a prisoner obtaining such identification or documents prior to such prisoner's release or discharge; and (iv) issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2025.
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2222
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Report Pass
1/24/25
Engrossed
1/29/25
Refer
1/31/25
Report Pass
2/10/25
Enrolled
2/17/25
Chaptered
3/24/25
Passed
3/24/25
Use of restraints on juveniles in court prohibited; exceptions. Prohibits the use of instruments of restraint, as defined in the bill, on a juvenile appearing before the juvenile and domestic relations district court unless, upon motion of the attorney for the Commonwealth or on the court's own motion sua sponte, the court makes a finding that (i) the use of such restraints is necessary (a) to prevent physical harm to such juvenile or another person, (b) because such juvenile has a history of disruptive courtroom behavior that has placed others in potentially harmful situations or presents a substantial threat of serious harm to himself or others as evidenced by recent behavior, or (c) because such juvenile presents a substantial risk of flight from the courtroom and (ii) there are no less restrictive alternatives to such restraints that will prevent flight of or harm to such juvenile or another person, including court personnel or law-enforcement officers. The bill provides that the juvenile shall be entitled to an attorney prior to a hearing on the use of instruments of restraint. The bill also requires the court to provide the juvenile's attorney an opportunity to be heard before the court orders the use of instruments of restraint, and the juvenile's attorney may waive the juvenile's appearance at such hearing. Lastly, the bill requires the court, if such restraints are ordered, to communicate to the parties the basis of the decision either orally or in writing. This bill is identical to SB 1255.
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2223
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Report Pass
1/24/25
Abolition of fees; legal representation of indigent defendant. Eliminates the fees for the cost of court-appointed counsel or public defender representation for persons who are determined to be indigent.
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2224
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry; offenses requiring registration; purchase or sale of minors; penalty. Adds the crime of purchasing or selling of minors to the list of offenses requiring registration in the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry.
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2225
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Commonwealth Savers Plan; Access Fund established; report. Establishes the Access Fund as a portion of the Fund of the Commonwealth Savers Plan (the Plan), to be managed by the governing board of the Plan (the board) as a part of the Fund but to be accounted for separately from the Fund, into which certain Fund moneys shall be allocated for the purpose of supporting the Plan's goal of enhancing the accessibility, attainability, and affordability of higher education for all citizens of the Commonwealth. The bill directs the board to (i) establish or identify and fund certain programs and partnerships to further the goal of enhancing the accessibility, attainability, and affordability of higher education for all citizens of the Commonwealth, including programs and partnerships that provide scholarships, grants, or mentoring and coaching services to certain identified populations of students; (ii) use certain distributions from the Access Fund, in accordance with the investment objectives and total return spending policy described in the bill and the standard of care set forth in applicable law, to support such programs and partnerships; (iii) appoint an Access Advisory Committee for the purpose of assisting the board by making recommendations relating to any such programs and partnerships for which distributions from the Access Fund could be used; and (iv) submit to relevant committees of the General Assembly and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission by December 1 of each year a report on the Plan's activities relating to the Access Fund for the preceding year. Finally, the bill directs the Audit and Actuarial Committee to, in addition to its other duties set forth in applicable law, assess and make recommendations to the board regarding the availability of Fund moneys for allocation to the Access Fund.
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2226
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Report Pass
1/29/25
Engrossed
2/3/25
Engrossed
2/4/25
Refer
2/5/25
Report Pass
2/13/25
Engrossed
2/18/25
Engrossed
2/19/25
Enrolled
3/7/25
Chaptered
3/19/25
Passed
3/19/25
Right of foster parents to prohibit disclosure of student address to parents; parental notification. Requires (i) notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, upon written request of the foster parent of an enrolled student, a school board employee to redact the address of the foster parent prior to providing such student's parent any record otherwise containing such address and (ii) at the time a child is placed in foster care, each local department of social services to, if applicable, notify the foster parents of their right to make a written request pursuant to clause (i).
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2227
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Issuance of writ of vacatur for victims of human trafficking. Amends the procedure that allows victims of human trafficking, defined in the bill, to file a petition of vacatur in circuit court to have certain convictions vacated and the police and court records for such convictions expunged. This bill was incorporated into HB 2393.
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2228
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Special conservators of the peace; emergency and involuntary civil admissions. Clarifies that the term "law-enforcement officer" as used in relevant law relating to emergency and involuntary civil admissions includes a special conservator of the peace authorized by an order of appointment pursuant to relevant law that states he is a "law-enforcement officer" for the purposes of laws related to emergency custody and involuntary temporary detention.
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2229
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Report Pass
1/30/25
Engrossed
2/3/25
Refer
2/5/25
Report Pass
2/12/25
Enrolled
3/7/25
Vetoed
3/24/25
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; material noncompliance by landlord; rent escrow; relief. Removes the requirement that, prior to the granting of any relief, a tenant shall pay into escrow any amount of rent called for under the rental agreement. The bill requires the tenant, during the pendency of the action, to pay into escrow the amount of rent that becomes due within five days of the date due under the rental agreement, unless or until such amount is modified by a subsequent order of the court. The bill also provides that a failure of the tenant to make timely payments into escrow shall not be grounds for dismissal of the underlying action but may be considered by the court when issuing an order.
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2230
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Emergency custody and involuntary admissions; transfer of custody to facility. Permits the law-enforcement agency or alternative transportation provider providing a person subject to an emergency custody order transportation to a facility or location for the required evaluation to transfer custody of such person to such facility or location if it (i) agrees to accept custody of the person; (ii) is actually capable of providing the level of security necessary to protect the person and others from harm, including having appropriate security personnel; and (iii) in cases in which transportation is provided by a law-enforcement agency, has entered into an agreement or memorandum of understanding with the law-enforcement agency setting forth the terms and conditions under which it will (a) accept a transfer of custody and (b) request that the law-enforcement agency will return to the facility or location upon request to protect the person and others should the security needs of such facility or location be exceeded, provided, however, that the facility or location may not require the law-enforcement agency to pay any fees or costs for the transfer of custody. Current law permits such transfer of custody if the facility or location (1) is licensed to provide the level of security necessary to protect both the person and others from harm, (2) is actually capable of providing the level of security necessary to protect the person and others from harm, and (3) in cases in which transportation is provided by a law-enforcement agency, has entered into an agreement or memorandum of understanding with the law-enforcement agency setting forth the terms and conditions under which it will accept a transfer of custody, provided, however, that the facility or location may not require the law-enforcement agency to pay any fees or costs for the transfer of custody.
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2231
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Public schools; Virginia Opportunity Scholarship Grant Program established. Establishes the Virginia Opportunity Scholarship Grant Program, to be administered and managed by the Department of the Treasury pursuant to guidelines developed by the Board of Education in collaboration with the Department of the Treasury, for the purpose of ensuring that all children in the Commonwealth have access to quality educational opportunities by annually awarding a grant in the amount of $5,000 per eligible student, as that term is outlined in the bill, for up to 10,000 eligible students each year. The bill requires the grant funds awarded pursuant to the Program to be used to support qualified educational expenses of attending an accredited private school in the Commonwealth, as enumerated by the bill. The bill also (i) directs the Board of Education, in collaboration with the Department of the Treasury, to develop guidelines for the implementation and administration of the Program; (ii) requires the Board of Education to develop and make available to each school board and each school board to make available to parents at the start of each school year informational materials relating to the Program; and (iii) requires the Department of Education to annually collect data on and include as a part of the Board of Education's Annual Report on the Condition and Needs of Public Schools in Virginia the total student participation in the Program.
VA
Virginia 2025 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2232
Introduced
1/7/25
Refer
1/7/25
Casino gaming; Tri-Cities Improvement Commission established. Establishes the Tri-Cities Improvement Commission, consisting of members from the Cities of Petersburg, Colonial Heights, and Hopewell and Dinwiddie and Prince George Counties, to receive disbursements of gaming tax revenues and to prioritize and fund certain improvements in those jurisdictions.